Miami Film Festival Unveils Diversity Program with Google

The Miami International Film Festival has unveiled a partnership with Google on a seminar series addressing gender and racial gaps in the film industry, Variety has learned exclusively.

The festival, presented by Miami Dade College, opens its 33rd edition on March 4. The event — which bills itself as the only major film festival produced and presented by a college or university — has also unveiled 21 female-directed films in its program.

“Google has changed the world of technology and information in swift and radical ways,” said Jaie Laplante, the festival’s executive director. “Who better to lead a new charge at changing long-standing gender and racial inequalities in opportunities in the world of film and technology?”

The seminar series will take place during March 5 – 8. It will include cinematographer Kirsten Johnson’s screening and discussion of her feature “Cameraperson,” which will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this month and cover her career working on such films as “Citizenfour” and “The Invisible War.”

“Our research shows that when it comes to encouraging women and underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in computer science and other technical fields, positive role models matter, which makes the work of the film industry so powerful,” said Julie Ann Crommett of Google.